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| Greece |
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| Introduction | Greece |
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Background: |
Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001. |
| Geography | Greece |
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Location: |
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey |
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Geographic coordinates: |
39 00 N, 22 00 E |
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Map references: |
Europe |
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Area: |
total: 131,940 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km land: 130,800 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Alabama |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km |
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Coastline: |
13,676 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate: |
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers |
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Terrain: |
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m |
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Natural resources: |
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential |
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Land use: |
arable land: 21.1%
permanent crops: 8.78% other: 70.12% (2001) |
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Irrigated land: |
14,220 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards: |
severe earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues: |
air pollution; water pollution |
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Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds |
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Geography - note: |
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands |
| People | Greece |
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Population: |
10,647,529 (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 14.5% (male
792,938; female 746,119) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,563,703; female 3,566,549) 65 years and over: 18.6% (male 873,540; female 1,104,680) (2004 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 40.2 years
male: 39.1 years female: 41.3 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate: |
0.2% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
9.73 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate: |
10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.06
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total: 5.63 deaths/1,000
live births male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 78.94
years female: 81.59 years (2004 est.) male: 76.44 years |
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Total fertility rate: |
1.32 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
8,800 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 100 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality: |
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek |
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Ethnic groups: |
Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece |
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Religions: |
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% |
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Languages: |
Greek 99% (official), English, French |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write female: 96.5% (2003 est.) total population: 97.5% male: 98.6% |
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People - note: |
women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor |
| Government | Greece |
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Country name: |
conventional long form:
Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia |
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Government type: |
parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974 |
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Capital: |
Athens |
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Administrative divisions: |
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos |
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Independence: |
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) |
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National holiday: |
Independence Day, 25 March (1821) |
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Constitution: |
11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001 |
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Legal system: |
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995)
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by February 2005); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90% |
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Legislative branch: |
unicameral Parliament or Vouli
ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms) elections: elections last held 7 March 2004 (next to be held by March 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - ND 45.4%, PASOK 40.6%, KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE 12, Synaspismos 6 |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Khristos POLYZOGOPOLOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Odysseas KYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS] |
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International organization participation: |
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Yeoryios SAVVAIDIS consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and Tampa consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324 telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300 chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles RIES embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki |
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Flag description: |
nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country |
| Economy | Greece |
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Economy - overview: |
Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by about 4.0% for the past two years, largely because of an investment boom and infrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Despite strong growth, Greece has failed to meet the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000; public debt, inflation, and unemployment are also above the eurozone average. Further restructuring of the economy include privatizing several state enterprises, undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing bureaucratic inefficiencies. |
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GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $213.6 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
4.7% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 22% services: 71.2% (2003 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
25.5% of GDP (2003) |
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Population below poverty line: |
NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
32.7 (1993) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
3.6% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force: |
4.39 million (2003 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 20%, industry 20%, services 60% (2000 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
9.4% (2003 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $76.84 billion
expenditures: $79.48 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.) |
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Public debt: |
100.9% of GDP (2003) |
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Agriculture - products: |
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products |
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Industries: |
tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
0.7% (2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
49.79 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption: |
48.8 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports: |
1.062 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports: |
3.562 billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production: |
5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption: |
405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports: |
84,720 bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - imports: |
468,300 bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production: |
35 million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
2.021 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance: |
$-11.33 billion (2003) |
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Exports: |
$5.899 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles |
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Exports - partners: |
Germany 12.6%, Italy 10.5%, UK 7%, US 6.5%, Bulgaria 6.2%, Cyprus 4.8%, France 4.2%, Turkey 4% (2003) |
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Imports: |
$33.27 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals |
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Imports - partners: |
Germany 12.5%, Italy 12.2%, France 6.6%, Russia 6.1%, South Korea 5.4%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%, Japan 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2003) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: |
$5.802 billion (2003) |
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Debt - external: |
$65.51 billion (2003 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
$5.4 billion from EU (1995) |
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Currency: |
euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries |
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Currency code: |
EUR |
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Exchange rates: |
euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 365.399 (2000), 305.647 (1999) |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
| Communications | Greece |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
5,205,100 (2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
8,936,200 (2003) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment:
adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and
international service domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands international: country code - 30; tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998) |
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Radios: |
5.02 million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995) |
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Televisions: |
2.54 million (1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.gr |
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Internet hosts: |
208,977 (2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
27 (2000) |
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Internet users: |
1,718,400 (2003) |
| Transportation | Greece |
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Railways: |
total: 2,571 km (764 km
electrified) standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2003) |
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Highways: |
total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways: |
6 km note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2004) |
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Pipelines: |
gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors: |
Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 793 ships (1,000
GRT or over) 30,186,624 GRT/52,943,968 DWT registered in other countries: 2,443 (2004 est.) foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Israel 1, Italy 1, Liberia 3, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 2, Panama 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 5 by type: bulk 298, cargo 57, chemical tanker 38, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 3, container 49, liquefied gas 5, passenger 10, petroleum tanker 267, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 19, short-sea/passenger 38, specialized tanker 3 |
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Airports: |
79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 66 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports: |
7 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Greece |
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Military branches: |
Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force (EPA), National Guard |
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Military manpower - military age and obligation: |
18 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment after reaching January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12 months for the Army, 14 months for the Air Force, 15 months for the Navy (April 2003) |
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Military manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 2,638,949 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 2,004,343 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age
annually: |
males: 63,496 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$7,288.9 million (2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
4.3% (2003) |
| Transnational Issues | Greece |
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Disputes - international: |
Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with the Republic of Macedonia over its name |
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Illicit drugs: |
a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime |
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